Dimming headlights for automobiles



De.-1s,192's.. A 1,695,824

- J. ROCHE DIIMING HEADLIGHTS-FOR AUTOMOBILES Y'led March 3, 1928 Patented Dec.. 18, 1928.

n irse STAT-Esi JoHN ROCHE, 0E HoBoKEN, NEW JERSEY.

' D'IMMING HEAnLrei-rs Fon AUrroMoB'rLE's'.

Application filed March 3f, 1928.

My invention relates to new and useful` improvement in dimming head lights for automobiles, being a continuation in part of my former application forpatent, Serial No. 238,481, dated December 8, 1927, and has for its object to provide al simple and effect-ive device for Vdimming the light rays from an electric lamp so' as `to avoidthc glare heretofore incident tothe head light-s of motor vehicles and to increase and decrease this modifying of the light andto put theY same under the control of the driver wheref by he may not only increase or decrease the light projected upon the road, but may utilize the light as a signal under 'a given code to warn the oncoming traffic of h intention to turn in one direction or another.

lVith these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims. -r

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its `construction in detail, referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1, is a viewy ofa portion of an auto mobile head light showing my present improvements applied thereto.. v

Fig. 2, is a rear view of Fig. 1, the casing and reflector being sufficiently broken away to show the operating solenoid and other parts.

Fig. 3, is a rear view of the modifying bulb or electric lamp showing a portion of said bulb and showing the light modifying sub` stance applied to portions of said bulb.

Fig. t, is a view similar' to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification of this invention in which mechanically operating means is substituted for the solenoid. l

Fig. 5, is a broken away sectional view of Fig. L1. f y

ln carrying out my invention as herein embodied, 10 represents the bulbhaving its front half coated with a light modifying substance, the rear of said bulb being also coated but in bands as indicated at 11 so as to leave alternate spaces 12 clear for the unobstructed passage of the light rays andk around the rear portion of this bulbA is fit-ted a shield '13,

said shield being so slotted as to either cover Serial No. 258,710.

these clear spaces in the bulb or to open theY same by said shield `by it being rotated upon itsv axis. This rotation is accomplished-.by the armature 14 of the solenoid 15, thelatter being attached to the armv 16 carried by the shield; said shield being fitted to revolve upon the socket 17 in which the lamp is rel movably secured in Vthe usual manner.'

18 represents the wires leading to and from the solenoid, said wires being connected with anyl suitable switch (not shown) upon the instrument Yboard of the vehicle', any suitable battery being included in the circuit, so that the solenoid `may be energiiedl or dee-nergized to rotate the shield to open the clear spaces in the rear portion of the bulb. The deenergizing of the solenoid will permit the closing of said spaces by the downward movement of the armature 14 through the action of gravity as will be readily understoot.

In the slight modification shown in Figs. Il and 5 the solenoidy and its armature are' dispensed with and a. lbell crank lever 25 is substituted therefor, one arm o f said lever being connected vby the Wire 26.to the arm 16, while the other arm of the lever 25 has attached thereto a Vcoupling rod 27 with which the rod 28 is coupled, the latter being intended to terminate upon the instrument boa-rd of the automobile, thereby giving the driver control over the rotation 'of the shield 13 by pulling upon the rod 28 and when this rod isreleased, the spring 29 will` rotate the shield 13 in the opposite direction.

19 represents the casing of a motor vehicle head light in which is mountedthe reflector 2O and this reflector has a super-imposed layer 2 1 applied to its reflecting surface of a trans'- lucent gum-like coating through which when the rays of light pass to the reflector and are returned therefrom, .said rays are modified to prevent the undue glare which is incident to the reflection of light from an electric lamp, thus modifying these rays to prevent an intense concentrated glare in front of the head light. Y

The bulb. 1() being mounted at the center of the reflector and having its surface coated as before described, will further modify the light emanating therefrom and passing to the reflector, and when the shield is closed over the transparent portions of the bulb, this modified light will give sufficient illumination of the road bed to permitthe safe driving of the automobile under ordinary condition, but when further illumination is de sired, it is only necessary to rotate the shield as before described to uncover the transparent portions of the bulb when the amount of illumination projected to the road bed Will be increased, but under the modifying effects of the coating upon the reflector, this illumination Will still be so modied as to prevent glare.

Of course I do not Wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as herein shown,

as these may be varied within the limits of the appended -claims Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is: 1. In a motor vehicle head light; a relleotor; an electric lamp mounted at the cenits axis; and a solenoid for operating said armature. Y v

2. In combination With va motor vehicleable shield for covering and uncovering the transparent portions of said bulb; and means for revolving` said shield upon its axis.

3. An automobile head light comprising a y reflector; an electric lamp mounted Within said reflector, a portion of said lampbe'ing translucent and portions thereof being transparent; a shield having cut-away portions for opening andclosingthe transparent sections of the lamp; and means for revolving saidl shield, said means being under the driver.

In testimony whereof, I have lined my signature.

the control of hereunto at- JOHN ROCHE. L 

